Woman held over abandoned girl

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of abandoning a 10-year-old Ethiopian girl at a Tube station, Scotland Yard said today.

Detectives have questioned an Ethiopian relative of the girl, who told officers she was called "Mary Solomon". The woman, in her fifties, has been released on police bail until April.

Met officers are working with Interpol in Addis Ababa to establish the girl's background and why she made the 3,700-mile trip to Britain.

It is believed she was brought to Britain in September for a better quality of life by members of her extended family-It is also thought she has never been brought up by her parents.

Following media appeals, police now say they have been able to establish "Mary's" real identity seven weeks after she was abandoned. They are also keen to find other members of her family living in London and the man with whom she flew to Britain.

The girl told police she was left by a male relative outside Kingsbury Tube station on 28 November last year. She was found crying in the road 40 minutes later by a minicab driver, who took her to social services.

She will continue to be looked after by her foster family, and is described as "very happy" with them.

Police are also exploring the possibility that she was abducted. But she is not thought to have suffered any harm.

Anyone with information should call police on 020 8733 5205, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Barnet social services on 020 8359 3784 .